Senselessland (chapter 5)

Impressions and images from Bel Paese

Could you imagine a country where public authorities are missing? Could you imagine a country where the permission to play a football match is granted by criminal organizations rather than Prefecture? The answer is yes, it's possible to assist to such a situation. Of course, in countries where democracy and the rule of law are healthy and strong. So in third world countries, where the rule of law doesn't exist and political order and control are in the hands of non-democratic powers having confusion is "normal". But what about if the situation just described happens in a country which member of the European Union and one of the most economically developed in the world? That's the question Italy and Europe will have to have to answer. Yesterday Italy Cup final showed how the so called Bel Paese is far from controlled by the State. Napoli and Fiorentina were supposed to play the final match of the competition, but because of riots before the beginning Napoli team supporters started to boycott the event creating disorders inside the stadium. It happened Napoli football team captain, Marek Hamsik, had to go to talk to Napoli ultras chief Gennaro De Tommaso, known as "Genny 'a carogna" (Genny lowlife). Who is he?, may people ask. He's Ciro De Tommaso's son. And who is Ciro De Tommaso? A person thought to be a member of Camorra.

 In Italy the controversial cohabitation between organized crime and public authorities has always been a never-ending problem at political and social level, and several inquiries have been opened during the years in order to establish how responsible is the Republic for mafia activity. Mafia-State negotiations still give reason to focus attention on Italy, but yesterday something changed: there was no one to deal with "Camorra delegations". Where the policemen were? Why no public officials didn't go to Napoli supporters sectors to restore order? Why a person belonging to Camorra had to decide if play or not a match when some of the highest Italian officials were sitting in the VIP area of the stadium? Italy is a country hostage of gangsters, and what happened in Rome yesterday is only a confirmation of a reality already known by everybody. Italians are controlled by criminals in a de facto non-existing country as demonstrated by critic whistles produced during the national anthem interpretation. Perhaps can we expect lowlife people respecting laws and values? No, we can't. Now the point is how Italy will end this situation. As a country it is not credible any more at international level. About sport, Heysel stadium disaster forced International authorities (UEFA) to keep English football teams out of the European competitions. Perhaps Napoli could be kept out of Italy Cup for next five years. Of course, in case of a sovereign State. But Camorra and Gennaro de De Tommaso would never take such a decision.